A daring early-morning robbery has shaken Ludhiana’s dairy trade after masked thieves looted more than ₹14.5 lakh from a prominent dairy outlet in under three minutes. The incident highlights growing security risks for cash-intensive dairy businesses located along high-speed roads.
The robbery took place at Dashmesh Dairy on Tajpur Road between 4 am and 5 am on Wednesday. According to CCTV footage, a white Skoda car stopped on the main road, after which three masked men stepped out and carried out the theft with calculated speed.
Swift and Coordinated Attack
The dairy owner, Amanjot Singh, said the thieves first attempted to force open a side shutter using sharp-edged weapons and heavy tools. When that failed, they broke the main shutter and entered the shop.
“They took the entire cash drawer and even the donation box,” Singh said. He was alerted to the break-in around 5 am by a neighbour who noticed the damaged storefront. Despite the dairy being located close to a police post, the criminals escaped before any response could be mounted.
CCTV Clues and Police Investigation
While the dairy’s internal cameras captured the incident, the suspects managed to conceal the vehicle’s registration number. Sub-inspector Sukhwinder Singh confirmed that although the Skoda is visible on the footage, the number plates are not clearly readable.
Police are now analysing footage from the Ludhiana Safe City surveillance network, which includes high-resolution government cameras placed along major roads. Investigators hope this will help trace the vehicle’s escape route and identify the suspects.
Locals have begun referring to the group as the “Skoda gang” due to their use of the same vehicle in multiple incidents.
Linked Crime Confirmed
Investigators believe the dairy robbery was part of a two-stop crime spree. Just minutes before the Dashmesh Dairy heist, the same group targeted a nearby flour mill owned by a trader named Sunny.
In that incident, the shutter was forced open using similar tools, and around ₹25,000 in cash was stolen. The empty cash drawer from the flour mill was later found discarded only metres from Dashmesh Dairy, strengthening police suspicions that the same gang carried out both robberies.
Security Concerns for Dairy Businesses
The incidents on Tajpur Road underline a growing vulnerability for dairies and food businesses operating on fast-moving arterial roads, where criminals can arrive and flee quickly.
Security experts are advising shop owners to:
- Install shutter guards or floor-anchored bullet locks
- Bolt cash safes directly to floors or structural beams
- Position at least one CCTV camera facing the road to capture vehicle number plates
- Reduce overnight cash storage wherever possible
As police continue their investigation, the case serves as a reminder that dairy outlets, often handling large cash volumes, must reassess security measures to protect staff and assets.